Saúde mental de estudantes universitários após retorno ao ensino presencial

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on mental health worldwide, particularly among university students. Objective: To assess the mental health of university students following their return to in-person classes in the post-pandemic period. Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey conducted between July and August 2022 with students from the Federal University of Espírito Santo. Data were collected through an online questionnaire sent to all students’ institutional emails. Symptoms of anxiety and depression were assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Binary logistic regression was performed, with anxiety and depression symptoms as dependent variables. Results: A total of 1,103 students participated in the study. According to the scales, 56.7% (n=625) showed scores compatible with both anxiety and depression disorders. Suicidal or self-harm thoughts were reported by 422 (38.3%) students. The logistic regression analysis indicated little to no association between the independent variables and mental health outcomes. Conclusion: The return to in-person education has brought to light a substantial number of students with undiagnosed and untreated mental disorders, highlighting the need for institutional support and targeted interventions.